Accounts Payable Manager

About the role

One of our prestigious client is looking for an experienced Accounts Payable Manager to lead a high-volume payables function for a manufacturing organization in Memphis, TN. This role is suited for a hands-on leader who can guide a sizable team, strengthen operational controls, and improve the efficiency and accuracy of end-to-end AP activities. The ideal candidate brings a strong accounting foundation, success in shared services environments, and the ability to drive process enhancements while supporting strong internal and supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Direct the daily performance of a large accounts payable organization, including supervising team leaders and supporting the development of a department of more than 20 employees.
• Maintain adherence to company policies, financial controls, and compliance standards to ensure accurate and reliable payables operations.
• Foster a positive, accountable team environment that supports employee engagement, recognition, coaching, and long-term retention.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and improve processing speed through continuous improvement and automation initiatives.
• Work with business leaders to design and execute operational enhancements that strengthen the effectiveness of the accounts payable function.
• Ensure invoices, payment batches, ACH transactions, and related disbursement activities are processed accurately and within established timelines.
• Support a high-quality service experience by resolving issues quickly and promoting dependable, timely responses to internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Partner with operations, purchasing, buyers, and cross-functional teams to address escalations, improve upstream processes, and build stronger vendor relationships.
• Contribute to implementation efforts and complex process changes affecting accounts payable, helping the team adapt while maintaining service levels.
• Oversee key accounting activities tied to accounts payable, including reconciliations, month-end close support, and control-focused review of transactions.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in accounts payable leadership, including responsibility for supervising teams in a high-volume environment.
• Strong accounting knowledge with practical experience in invoice coding, payment processing, reconciliations, and month-end close activities.
• Background in a shared services setting with exposure to large-scale or multi-entity accounts payable operations.
• Demonstrated success leading process improvement or implementation initiatives within an AP or finance function.
• Knowledge of internal controls and compliance standards, including experience working in SOX-regulated environments.
• Ability to manage complex accounts payable workflows involving check runs, ACH payments, and escalated supplier or internal inquiries.
• Proven leadership capabilities with experience coaching supervisors, developing staff, and driving team performance.
• Familiarity with international accounting considerations is preferred.